Why Should You
Believe in God, Jesus, and the Bible?A Study of Fulfilled
Prophecy, Miracles, the Resurrection and other Christian
Evidences

What evidence
does the Christian religion offer as reasons to believe that God
exists or to have faith in the Bible is God's inspired word and
in Jesus Christ as the Divine Son of God? What are the origins of
the Universe, earth, plants, animals, and people: Divine creation
or evolution? Do history, geography, archaeology, and science
contradict the Bible, or do they confirm belief in it? Has Jesus
fulfilled Old Testament prophecy of the Christ? What about
miracles and the resurrection as proofs for Jesus? Does the Bible
contain "thousands of contradictions"? Please consider
this study of Christian apologetics.

Have you ever wondered whether God exists, whether Jesus
really is God's Son, or whether the Bible is really true? Have
you heard that the Bible contains "thousands of
contradictions" and that all living thing originated by
evolution rather than by creation? What about miracles, fulfilled
prophecy, and the resurrection of Jesus?

The purpose of this study is to examine the evidence for some
of the most basic claims of the Bible and Christianity. As you
read, please look up the >>>CAPITALIZED
Scriptures<<< in your Bible. Then answer each question
that has a number enclosed in asterisks (*1*, *2*, etc.). NOTE:
Correct answers for the questions are listed at the end. This
lesson is not designed to be submitted
to us for grading. If you wish to study this material as an
online Bible study lesson, please go to our Free Bible Study
Lessons web site at www.biblestudylessons.com.
Thank you.

3. The Bible claims that Jesus is God's Son.

*3* What did Thomas call Jesus? (a) a great preacher and a
good man, (b) Lord and God, (c) a fraud.

*4* What must we believe to have eternal life? (a) that Jesus
is Christ, the Son of God, (b) that Mohammed is a prophet, (c) it
does not matter.

"...we have heard for ourselves and know that this is
indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world" (John 4:42). [See
also John 8:24; Luke 19:10; Matt. 16:15-18; 10:37; John 1:1,14.]

Note: these claims do not permit compromise. We cannot say,
"The Bible is just a good book," or "Jesus was
just a great man." The Bible claims it is God's word, and
Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. If these claims are not
true, then Jesus is a liar and the Bible is a fraud!

(See the links at the end of this study
for further information about the claims of Jesus and the claims
of the Bible that it is inspired by God.)

What Kind of Evidence Will We Study?

God the Father is invisible (1 John 4:12). We cannot perform
scientific laboratory experiments to determine if He exists, but
this does not mean we must accept "blind faith" without
evidence. Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. His life can be
investigated like any other historical fact. Likewise, many other
claims of the Bible can be investigated by evidence from logic,
history, geography, and archaeology.

In our daily lives, all of us determine our beliefs on the
basis of this kind of evidence. For example, a hunter may not see
an animal, but from its footprints he knows it exists and he
knows much about its nature. In the same way, God has left "footprints
on the sands of time."

A judge and jury do not physically observe a crime, yet they
reach a verdict about what happened by the testimony of witnesses.
Likewise, God "did not leave Himself without witness" (Acts
14:17).

Let us call God's "witnesses," and you be the judge.
Weigh the testimony honestly, then reach a verdict (Rom. 10:17),
but remember that you are not determining the guilt or innocence
of someone else. Rather, your verdict will determine your own
eternal destiny!

Witness #1: The Existence of the Universe

No one can deny the existence of the universe. The question is:
what is the origin of the universe?

Only two explanations are available: (1) there is an all-wise,
all-powerful God who created it; or (2) matter is eternal and,
beginning from an original simple life form, all living things
developed gradually over millions of years by process of
evolution. Consider which of these two views best fits the
evidence.

A. Life Comes Only from Life.

>>> Read ACTS 17:24-28. <<<

*5* What does this verse say is the origin of life? (a) life
on earth has always existed, (b) an unplanned accident of nature
produced the first primitive life by spontaneous generation in an
ancient swamp, (c) life on earth was created by a living, wise,
powerful God.

One of the most firmly established laws of science is the Law
of Biogenesis, which says that life comes only from living things.
There is no evidence that dead matter can spontaneously generate
life.

The Bible agrees with scientific fact, for it says that life
came from the eternal, living Creator (cf. Acts 14:15). However,
evolution contradicts scientific proof, since it requires that
dead matter sometime spontaneously came to life. Which view best
fits the evidence?

B. Living Things Reproduce after Their Own
Kind.

>>> Read GENESIS 1:11,21,24,25. <<<

*6* What kind of offspring do living things have? (a) the same
kind as the parents, (b) with enough time, entirely different
things may evolve, (c) you never know.

Every year millions of living things reproduce, and the
offspring is always the same kind as the parent. This is exactly
what the Bible says. The offspring of dogs will be other dogs,
not fish, birds, or people!

Evolution, however, teaches that all the present kinds are the
offspring of previous different kinds, all the way back to one
original life-form. But there is no convincing evidence for this.
Living things adapt to their environment, but where is the proof
that they produce totally different kinds of living things (fish
to reptile to bird, etc.)?

If evolution was true, there should be many fossils of
intermediate "links" between present kinds of living
things. However, the "links" are still missing!

C. The Human Race Is Unique.

>>> Read GENESIS 1:26-28. <<<

*7* What is man's place in the universe? (a) man is just
another animal, (b) man is the most intelligent and powerful
being in existence, (c) man is in the image of God but above the
animals.

Simple observation shows that man is far above the animals

Only man has rational intelligence. What animal uses abstract
symbols (letters and numbers) to speak, write, or do mathematical
calculations? What animal invents new tools and machines, trains
animals, uses fire, or records wisdom to pass on to future
generations?

Among animals there are many shades of intelligence. If man
evolved from animals, why are there no animals with shades of
intelligence right up to ours, instead of so vast a gulf?

Only man creates new beauty to appreciate in the form of
music, art, poetry, humor, etc.

Only man has a conscience and sense of religious values. What
animal by nature feels a sense of guilt or seeks to find and
worship the cause of its existence?

If man evolved from animals, how do we explain these vast
differences? If we develop new characteristics according to
"survival of the fittest," how does appreciation of
art, etc., make us more fit to survive?

The Bible, however, easily explains all these differences. Man
shares these characteristics in common, not with the animals, but
with God in whose image we were made.

D. Design Must Come from a Designer.

>>> Read ROMANS 1:20 & PSALMS 19:1. <<<

*8* How can we see God's power and divinity? (a) by "blind
faith" without evidence, (b) by the things God made, (c) we
cannot see them.

Intelligent beings can recognize the work of another
intelligent being.

When an intelligent being designs something to accomplish some
purpose, that thing bears the marks of intelligence -- it is
intelligible. Other intelligent beings can study how it works,
etc. Even if we have never met the maker, we know he must exist
and we can appreciate the degree of his intelligence.

To confirm this concept to yourself, take this test. Try to
name one thing that has these characteristics: (1) It appeals to
your intelligence -- it "makes sense" as a logical,
reasonable way to accomplish some purpose. But, (2) you know it
did not originate as the effort of some intelligent being -- it
"just happened" by blind chance. Can you name any such
thing? A car? house? bridge?

The universe bears countless marks of being designed by an
intelligent Being.

Cameras are designed by intelligent beings, but no camera can
match the overall performance of the human eye. Where did your
eyes come from?

Computers are made by intelligent beings, but the human brain
can surpass computers in many ways. Where did your brain come
from?

Factories are made by intelligent beings to manufacture a
product. But who made the human reproductive system?

"For every house is built by someone, but He who built
all things is God" (Hebrews 3:4). When you consider all the
organs of the human body, then all the other plants and animals,
the heavenly bodies, and all the complex laws of nature, is it
reasonable to argue that all this came without intelligent
planning?

Science is founded on the conviction that the universe is
intelligible -- it is so orderly and systematic that the human
intelligence is able to grasp much about its working. Doesn't
this, of itself, prove that an intelligent Being invented it? And
doesn't the fact that much of its working is beyond our ability
to understand and to duplicate, prove that the intelligent Being
who made it is far superior to us?

Every effect must have an adequate cause! Evolution says that
life began by blind chance and then random mutations produced all
advanced life forms. The Bible, however, says that the all-wise,
all-powerful, living God intentionally planned and created the
universe and all the life forms in it. As you reach your verdict,
you must determine which view is more reasonable and best fits
the evidence.

Witness #2: The Accuracy of the Bible

Although the Bible is a textbook on religion, it often touches
on other subjects such as history, geography, or science. When it
does, we can check it out by comparing it to archeology, etc. If
the Bible is written by the all-knowing Creator, we would expect
accuracy.

Further, the Bible was written 2000-3500 years ago, when
scientific error abounded. Skeptics have searched it mercilessly
to find error in it. But if, in spite of this, we find that it
contains none of the common errors of its day -- if it actually
speaks truths that were unknown to scientists till centuries
later -- then this would greatly strengthen our confidence that
it is not from men but from God.

Consider the following examples in which the Bible has been
proved to be accurate, even when "scholars" disagreed
with it.

A. History and Geography

1. The Hittite nation

The Bible frequently mentions this ancient nation (2 Sam. 11:3ff;
Gen. 15:19-21; Num. 13:29; Josh. 3:10), but for years skeptics
said the Bible was wrong. Then in 1906, Hugo Winckler excavated
Hattusa, the Hittite capital. We now know that, at its height,
the Hittite civilization rivaled Egypt and Assyria in glory! (See
Biblical World, pp. 290ff.)

2. Pithom and Raamses

The Bible says that Israelite slaves built these Egyptian
cities using bricks of clay mixed with straw, then clay and
stubble, then clay alone (Ex. 1:11; 5:10-21). In 1883, Naville
examined the ruins of Pithom and found all three types of brick.
(See Biblical World, pp. 458,459.)

3. The Book of Acts

Sir William Ramsay was a skeptic who sought to disprove Acts
by tracing Paul's journeys. Instead, his examination made him a
firm believer in the accuracy of the book! The turning point came
when he proved that, contrary to accepted scholarship, the Bible
was right when it implied Iconium was in a different region from
Lystra and Derbe (Acts 14:6). (See Archaeology and Bible History,
Free, p. 317.)

Consider these quotations from prominent archeologists:

"...it may be stated categorically that no
archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical
reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been
made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail
historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same
token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has
often led to amazing discoveries." -- Dr. Nelson
Glueck (Rivers in the Desert, p. 31)

"...archaeology has confirmed countless passages
which have been rejected by critics as unhistorical or
contradictory to known facts ... Yet archaeological
discoveries have shown that these critical charges ...
are wrong and that the Bible is trustworthy in the very
statements which have been set aside as untrustworthy ...
We do not know of any cases where the Bible has been
proved wrong." -- Dr. Joseph P. Free (Archaeology
and Bible History, pp. 1,2,134)

B. Science

>>>Read ISAIAH 40:22. <<<

*9* What is the shape of the earth? (a) circle, (b) flat, (c)
cylinder.

Isaiah wrote this when men thought the earth was flat ("circle"
= "a circle, sphere" -- Gesenius). Today we have
pictures taken from space to show the earth's shape, but how did
Isaiah know?

>>>Read JOB 26:7. <<<

*10* How is the earth held up? (a) by 4 huge pillars, (b) on
the back of Atlas, (c) it is hung on nothing.

Ancient men believed many errors. How did Job know the truth?

>>>Read PSALM 8:8. <<<

*11* What is found in the sea according to this verse? (a)
mountains, (b) paths, (c) seaweed, (d) fish.

Men knew of no paths in the sea until Matthew Maury read this
verse and determined to find them. He discovered the ocean
currents, and became known as the Father of Oceanography. (Impact,
9/91, pp. 3,4).

>>>Read ECCLESIASTES 1:7. <<<

*12* What does this verse tell us about rivers? (a) rivers run
to the sea, (b) the sea does not get fuller, (c) rivers go back
where they were before, (d) all the preceding.

Today we understand how this happens by the water cycle and
evaporation. How did Solomon know?

The Bible has contradicted unproved theories, but properly
understood it has never contradicted any proved scientific fact.
Yet it has often stated scientific truths centuries before men
knew them.

While the Bible has been repeatedly proved accurate, those who
criticize the Bible have been consistently unable to disprove it.
This surely strengthens our faith in other Bible teachings.

Witness #3: The Unity of the Bible

The Bible includes 66 books written by 40 different men over
1500 years.

These were men of widely different generations, localities and
backgrounds. There were kings, slaves, fisherman, physicians, etc.
They lived in Israel, Babylon, or Rome, from 1400 BC to 100 AD

But their writings, when collected, show no contradictions.

Paul does not disagree with Moses, John does not argue with
David, etc., though they wrote on the most controversial subjects
known to man. Instead, their teachings strengthen and support one
another.

Some skeptics claim contradictions exist in the Bible, but ask
them to produce one! Most will not even try. Usually they have
never really studied the Bible, but are taking someone else's
word about it. Proper study can reconcile any supposed
contradictions that are suggested.

Mere human wisdom could never achieve such unity.

Consider religious teachers who do write by their own wisdom.
Can you find even two who completely agree? Many times just one
man will eventually contradict himself!

How then could 40 men of such different backgrounds agree so
completely? The answer must be that they were not writing by
their own wisdom! The Bible cannot possibly be the product of 40
different minds. It must be the product of one supreme Mind, just
as it claims.

This witness testifies that: (1) God must exist, since only a
Supreme Being could write such a book as the Bible, and (2) the
Bible is a message from that Supreme Being.

Witness #4: Fulfilled Prophecy

A. The Purpose of Prophecy

The Bible uses prophecy to prove God exists.

>>> Read ISAIAH 41:21-23; 42:8,9. <<<

*13* How did God prove He is the true God and graven images
are false? (a) He predicted future events, (b) He just told us to
accept this without proof, (c) He does not care what people
believe.

Men "do not know what will happen tomorrow" (James 4:14).
It takes a Supreme Being to foretell the future accurately. If
the God of the Bible can do this, then He must exist and must be
the true God.

The Bible uses prophecy to show which men were spokesmen for
God.

>>> Read DEUTERONOMY 18:20-22. <<<

*14* If a man attempts to predict the future and fails, what
can we know? (a) he is from God so we should believe him, (b) he
is not guided by God, (c) we can't know anything about him.

If the Bible writers could infallibly predict the future,
surely this would indicate God was working through them. [See
also Jer. 28:9.]

The Bible uses prophecy to show that Jesus was God's Son.

>>> Read LUKE 24:25-27,44. <<<

*15* What did Jesus say about Old Testament Scriptures? (a)
they no longer have any value, (b) He was unable to understand
them, (c) they spoke about Him and He fulfilled them, (d) all the
preceding.

Jesus' disciples often quoted Old Testament prophecy to prove
that Jesus was the Messiah and that His claims must be true [cf.
John 5:39; Acts 2:25-36; 3:18- 26; 10:43; 13:27-39].

B. Examples of Fulfilled Prophecy

Here are just a few of the hundreds of prophecies Jesus
fulfilled:

Subject

Prophecy

Fulfillment

Place of birth: Bethlehem

Micah 5:2

Matthew 2:1-6

Lineage: Seed of David

Jeremiah 23:5

Acts 13:22,23

Virgin Birth

Isaiah 7:14

Matthew 1:18-25

Prophet, priest, and king

Deut. 18:17-19; Psalm 110:1-4

Acts 3:20-23; Hebrews 7:17; 8:1

Fore-runner: John Baptist

Isaiah 40:3,4

Luke 3:2-5

Triumphal entry

Zechariah 9:9

Matthew 21:1-9

Death by crucifixion

Psalm 22:16-18; 34:20

John 19:18-37

Died for others' guilt

Isaiah 53:4-12

1 Peter 2:21-25

Buried in rich man's tomb

Isaiah 53:9

Matthew 27:57-60

Resurrection

Psalm 16:10

Acts 2:24-32

Though a man might fulfill one or two of these by coincidence,
to fulfill all of them would be impossible except by plan of God.

In addition, the Bible often accurately predicted the future
of nations and cities such as Israel (Deut. 28:15-64), Tyre (Ezek.
26:3-14), Nineveh (Zeph. 2:13-15), and Babylon (Isa. 13:19-21;
Jer. 51:37-58).

Mere men, writing by their own human wisdom, could never have
predicted the future like this, but the Bible writers did so time
and again. This witness testifies that God exists and that He
spoke through these men. Since Jesus fulfilled these prophecies,
He must be the Messiah, the King, the Prophet, and Savior God
sent into the world.

Witness #5: Miracles

A. Examples of Miracles

A miracle, according to the Bible, is not just any unusual
event, nor would an event be called a miracle just because God
caused it. A miracle is an event that would be impossible by
natural law, but is brought to pass by the supernatural power of
God. Examples are:

Raising the dead (John 11:17-44; Acts 9:36-42).

Walking on water and calming a storm (Matt. 14:22-33; 8:23-27).

Feeding multitudes with a few loaves & fishes and having
more food left over than there was at the beginning (Matt. 14:13-21;
15:32-39).

B. The Purpose of Miracles

*16* What did Jesus say His works proved? (a) that the Father
sent Him, (b) that He was a skilled magician, (c) that anybody
who loves God can receive miracles.

>>>Read ACTS 14:3. <<<

*17* What purpose was served by the miracles done through
Paul? (a) they made Paul wealthy, (b) they proved the Lord spoke
through Paul, (c) they proved everybody can do miracles, (d) all
the preceding.

People need a way to distinguish God's true spokesmen from
false ones. This was the purpose of miracles -- they "confirmed
the word" (Mark 16:20). If men could do works that could
occur only by the power of God, people would know God was working
in those men and they would believe the message preached (Heb. 2:3,4;
Acts 2:22; John 20:30,31; 4:48; 2 Cor. 12:12).

C. Evidence that Miracles Occurred

Since Jesus and His apostles are not personally in our
presence, how can we today reach a verdict whether or not
miracles were really performed? We must call the witnesses.

1. The Bible contains testimony from many eyewitnesses to
confirm that miracles occurred (John 20:30,31 -- see also the
many examples already listed). Remember that the Bible is
historically trustworthy.

2. Even the enemies of the gospel testified that Jesus and His
apostles did miracles.

>>>Read ACTS 4:16 and JOHN 11:47. <<<

*18* Who realized that Jesus and His apostles did miracles? (a)
Jewish leaders and all people in Jerusalem, (b) only Jesus'
disciples, (c) only gullible fanatics.

Whether friend or foe, no one who really saw the works of
Jesus and His apostles could deny that miracles were done. Their
testimony becomes evidence on which we can base our faith (cf.
Matt. 12:22-24; Acts 8:5-13; 13:10-13; Ex. 8:17-19; 1 Kings 18:17-39).

Miracles are God's stamp of approval on the teaching of Jesus
and the Bible writers. This witness testifies that there is a God
who possesses supernatural power. Since Bible writers did
miracles, they must have been guided by God's power. And since
Jesus did miracles, His claims also must be valid: He was the Son
of God.

Witness #6: The Resurrection

Jesus was "declared to be the Son of God with power ...
by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4). The
resurrection is God's proof that Jesus is His Son. It is the
greatest of all miracles in that, if we accept it, all other
Bible miracles are easy to accept. Yet if we reject the
resurrection, the other miracles will not matter since we cannot
be saved if we reject the resurrection (cf. Rom. 10:9,10; John 20:28-31).

A. The Facts Surrounding Jesus' Death

>>>Read 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-8. <<<

*19* What did Paul preach about Jesus? (a) He died, (b) He was
buried, (c) He arose, (d) He appeared to many, (e) all the
preceding.

The four gospel accounts confirm the following facts. Remember
that the Bible is historically trustworthy. Virtually everyone
concedes these events to be true:

1. Jesus was beaten, nailed to the cross, and pierced by a
spear.
2. Roman soldiers examined His body to be sure He was dead.
3. His disciples embalmed His body and placed it in the tomb of
Joseph of Arimathea.
4. Jews sealed the tomb and placed soldiers to guard it.
5. On the third day afterwards, the body was gone.
6. Many people claimed they had seen Jesus alive again.
7. The disciples began to preach that His resurrection proved He
was Christ (Acts 1:3; 2:24-36; 3:15, etc.).

Any explanation offered for these events must account for all
the facts. Especially one must explain the empty tomb and the
eyewitness testimony of those who claimed to see Jesus alive. (Read
the accounts in Matt. 27 & 28; Mark 15 & 16; Luke 23
& 24; John 18-21; and Acts 1.)

B. Possible Explanations for the Evidence

1. The theory that the disciples stole the body.

The soldiers were paid to say this (Matt. 28:11-15), but
consider:

* This involves men testifying about what happened while they
slept! Should we accept this as valid testimony?

* How did the disciples evade the guards who were there to
prevent the theft of the body? Note: the punishment for losing a
prisoner, especially while sleeping on duty, was death (cf. Acts
12:19; 16:27). If this really had happened, would the soldiers
admit it?

* What motive would the disciples have for this? They were
persecuted and most died for preaching the resurrection. None
gained power, riches, or pleasure. Yet none ever denied his
testimony regarding the resurrection. Why do this if they knew it
was a lie?

* How would this explain the personal appearances of the body,
especially to foes and doubters like Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9) and
Thomas (John 20:26ff)?

2. The theory that Jesus did not really die but only "swooned"
on the cross and then later recovered in the tomb.

* How can this explain the testimony of the Roman soldiers,
the centurion, and the disciples who embalmed Jesus, all of whom
said He was dead (John 19:32-34,38-42; Mk. 15:44,45)?

* Jesus had been scourged, crucified, and pierced by a spear.
He was three days in the tomb without food, water, or medication.
How could He revive, roll away the huge stone, evade the guards,
walk the length of Palestine, and still appear healthy enough to
convince the skeptical disciples that He was resurrected? This
would be a miracle almost as great as the resurrection!

* Would the character of Jesus allow this? Remember, this
would make Him a liar and blasphemer.

3. The theory that the disciples had "hallucinations"
and only imagined they saw Jesus alive after the crucifixion.

* What happened to the body? This theory would mean it would
still be in the tomb where the enemies could bring it forth to
disprove the claims of a resurrection.

* Were the disciples in a state of mind to hallucinate? People
who hallucinate see what they expect to see, but the disciples
did not expect to see Jesus alive again. They did not even
believe when they did see (Mark 16:11-14; Luke 24:11). Did
doubting Thomas and unbelieving Saul hallucinate too?

* How does this explain the number and nature of the
appearances? How could so many people have the same
hallucination, many of them at the same time? The tone is factual
and historical. The witnesses saw, heard, and handled the body (Luke
24:39; John 20:26-29).

None of these theories fit the evidence. The only reasonable
verdict is that Jesus presented Himself alive "by many
infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3). He truly was raised from the
dead. Therefore, He truly is the Divine Son of God, just as He
claimed.

Conclusion

The witnesses have now testified, and you must reach your
verdict. Remember that it does not matter to you what verdict
other people reach. What matters is the verdict you reach. Your
eternal destiny depends on your decision. In order to conclude
honestly that God does NOT exist, the Bible is NOT God's word,
and Jesus is NOT God's Son, here is what you must do:

1. Explain the existence of the universe without God to create
it. What reasonable explanation is there?
2. Disprove the accuracy of the Bible. Skeptics have tried this
for centuries without success.
3. Disprove the unity of the Bible. Again, this has been tried
repeatedly and unsuccessfully.
4. Explain the fulfilled prophecies. What explanation can there
be, other than the inspiration of God?
5. Disprove the miracles. But even Jesus' enemies in the first
century could not do this!
6. Disprove the resurrection. What explanation can you give?

What verdict will you reach? Do you believe God exists, the
Bible is God's word, and Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God?